PHILIPPINE farm workers received wages averaging P331.10 per day in 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In a report, the PSA said the 2019 rate is 8.1% higher than the level reported in 2018.

CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) posted the highest wages at P399.08 per day, followed by MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) at P394.27, and Ilocos Region at P354.65.

Meanwhile, Central Visayas recorded the lowest daily wage at P276.43, followed by Zamboanga Peninsula at P280.39, and Northern Mindanao at P280.73.

By crop, the PSA said palay workers received the highest daily wage of P351.39.

Palay farmers in the CALABARZON Region earned P422.27 per day, followed by MIMAROPA at P397.64, and Cagayan Valley at P380.35.

Meanwhile, palay farmers situated in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) earned P270.88, the lowest of all regions.

The daily average wage of coconut farmers was P338.72.

Coconut farmers in Cagayan Valley earned P443.33, followed by MIMAROPA at P416.54, and CALABARZON at P391.17.

Coconut farm laborers in Zamboanga Peninsula earned P279.54, the lowest of any region.

The daily average wage of sugarcane farmers was P309.08.

Sugarcane farm workers in Davao Region earned P374.50, followed by Ilocos Region at P353.25, and CALABARZON at P340.30.

However, sugarcane farm workers in SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City) had the lowest daily wage of P277.85.

The daily wage of corn farmers averaged P288.04.

Corn farmers in CALABARZON earned P391.02, followed by Central Luzon at P348.64, and Ilocos Region at P315.48.

Meanwhile, corn farm workers in BARMM had the lowest wage of P244.45.

Male farmers received an average daily wage of P335, 10% higher than the wage of female workers.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment National Wages and Productivity Commission, the current nominal minimum wage for the National Capital Region as of July ranges from P500 to P537. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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